Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Colorado Gold located?
We don't have a storefront, office, or clubhouse. You could say our office is the rink during practice times, and we skate at the World Arena Ice Hall in Colorado Springs, Colorado - an official U.S. Olympic Training Site!
See our home page for location specifics.
How much does it cost?
Our basic drop-in rate is $30/session plus $10 for skate rental. Club membership ($125/year for single skaters, $75/year for each additional family member) gives you options beyond that, like season ice passes, 10-session punch cards, plus season-long skate rental plans. Discounts are available for multi-skater families. Monthly payment plans are available for season ice passes. Terms and conditions apply.
Please contact one of our Board members for our latest schedule of fees and dues.
Do I have to be a member?
Membership in Colorado Gold is really for everybody, but we give newcomers the opportunity to explore the sport before committing. Skate up to five drop-in sessions with us to see if this is something you want to tackle. After that, annual club membership is required. Membership keeps the club strong, and it's your key to getting the best ice time rates.
Five drop-in sessions is also the limit set by US Speedskating, the sport's national governing body and our liability insurance provider. Beyond Colorado Gold membership, USS membership is also required in order for you to be covered under our liability policy. US Speedskating does offer First Year memberships at a discounted rate. Returning skater memberships are available for both the Club Competitor/Recreational level and for the National Competitor level.
Do I need to know how to skate?
It's best if you have basic, rudimentary ice skating skills. Our sessions are not the place to take on ice skating for the first time. If you’ve participated in Learn to Skate USA classes at your local rink, completion of Basic Skills 3 is recommended before taking on speedskating. Knowing how to cross over in turns is a plus.
Whether or not you’ve taken classes, you'll have more fun and everyone will be more safe if you come to us with some amount of experience on hockey or figure skates. You should be well past clinging to the side boards--that's the least safe place to be during practice. You should be able to get from the ice entrance to the middle of the rink under your own power quickly enough to not be a hazard to the skaters who are "on track." There are times when we have full-grown adults circling the track at over 20 miles per hour, so collisions are to be avoided at all costs.
Also keep in mind that speedskates are quite different from hockey and figure skates, so they present unique challenges. They don't really make the best skates for total beginners.
How old do I need to be?
Skaters of all ages are welcome. You should see our smallest rental skates (child size 12--totally adorable). Basic ability is more important than age.
What should I wear?
Without getting fancy, you should at least wear long sleeves, long pants, full-fingered gloves, and most importantly, a helmet. A bike, hockey, or ski helmet will do. We can't let you on the ice without one. Knee pads are also recommended.
The next step up would be cycling gear, as in tights and jackets. At this point, you may want to also consider skating-specific cut proof gloves and a neck guard. You could also add in some shin guards--check out the soccer equipment aisle at the sporting goods store.
If you really want to look the part, go for the skin suit. Some skin suits provide cut-proof fabric in strategic areas. Nowadays, though, full cut-proof undersuits are required at the national level (elite as well as age group).
What are my options for skates?
Rent from us
We have a fleet of rental skates. Most are Bont club skates and they're good for getting a beginning speedskater on the ice. They're a little like loaner balls at the bowling alley--fine for having fun and getting into it, but not necessarily for advancing in the sport. They're available for rent on a per-session basis ($10), or members with a season ice pass can rent them for $75/season.
There are also a few sets of higher quality MG-brand boots with Maple Premium blades. They're pretty nice, but availability is limited. Many have been snagged up by younger members with still-growing feet.
Buy your own
Let's cut to the chase. You want to know what they cost, don't you? A decent pair of short track skates will cost about $350-$400 new. You can spend less, but you'll be happier on something other than the bare minimum. Remember--fit is everything.
There are not a lot of speedskating retail outlets in the US. Below are the folks we've worked with the most. Tell them we sent you.
Carpenter Boot Company
The Skate Now Shop
Special Equipment Company
Take the plunge
There may come a time when you might consider custom-made boots. You don't have to wait until you're vying for the national team. Many recreational skaters in our club have done it. Of course, custom boots don't automatically make you faster. But they can help you get better sooner. The perfect fit helps your feet relax, and you can focus more on your technique rather than worrying over foot discomfort and fatigue. Can't say it enough--fit is everything.
At this level, heat moldability isn't as much of a concern. Plaster casts are formed around your feet. From the casts, replicas of your feet are produced, and boots are then constructed around those. Be warned: this comes at a price--around $2,000. Is it worth it? We know of no one that has regretted it. There are plenty of people who will spend three to five times that amount on a bicycle. The custom boots will do more for your skating than the boutique bicycle will for your riding. (Yes, we know. Those are fighting words to the wheel nerds.)
Carpenter Boot Company, Carpenter Family
SS Boots, Bruce Kohen, Jefferson City , MO
Simmons Racing, David Simmons, Cape Coral, FL
Marchese Racing, Paul Marchese, W. Coxsackie, N
Any other gear I should have?
If you're skating regularly, you'll want to learn to sharpen your blades and get your own sharpening equipment. This includes a jig to hold your skates, sharpening stones of various grits, and a burr stone or some deburring gadget. We're happy to teach you how to sharpen. We're also happy to accept gifts of food and/or drink.
What are practices like?
All practice sessions have the same basic protocol. Look to the club regulars for what to do and when. They’ll help you get into the swing of things.
Rink setup
Around 20 to 30 minutes prior to our actual ice time, there's a flurry of activity to get the rink ready. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can be skating. Some people are working on getting our crash pads out of storage and on the ice (parents--this is a great way to help out). Others are on the ice putting pads in place (skaters--watch and learn which pads go where). We also have to get supplies out of our storage shed (buckets, squeegees, track blocks), fill the water barrel back in the Zamboni garage, and set out the blocks (the little black rubber cones) on the ice.
Suiting up
After setting up the rink, it's time to put on all your stuff: skates, skin suit, safety gear… whatever you have. Some skaters do this first so that they can be putting pads in place and setting up the track while on skates. This can be the faster way to go once you know what you're doing.
Warm-up & practice
There will be a number of skaters working their way onto the ice while others skate slow to medium-speed warm-up laps. Watch for these skaters as you enter the ice. We’re almost always going counter-clockwise, so skaters will be approaching from your left. If you’re new to speedskating, work your way to center ice. We’ll meet you there. If you’re experienced, dive in with some warm-up laps.
The coach will call everyone to center ice. The coach runs the session and is the primary traffic cop, so please listen and pay attention. We usually start with a group warm-up, move on to some balance and technique drills, skate sets of laps that focus on the drills we just covered, and usually, we conclude with a relay set (often the funnest part of the session).
At the beginning of the season (September), the focus is more on drills and technique rather than pure speed. Toward the end of the season (March), practices are more workout-like, i.e., lots of sets of lots of laps.
Cleanup
Roughly five to 10 minutes before the session is scheduled to end, somebody yells "PADS!" All skating stops and we start picking up. That means everybody. Club regulars know how the pads are collected and stowed. Again, watch and learn. There’s a method to the madness, and we’d rather have you observe how it’s done instead of randomly dragging pads around. We’re usually in a hurry, so don’t be offended by the shouting. It’s imperative that we stay in good favor with rink management, so if the session is over at 7:00 a.m. or 4:30 p.m., that means everybody and everything is off the ice at 7:00 a.m. or 4:30 p.m.
I want MORE! What can I do?
Go Racing!
Our club hosts one to two competitions a year. We typically close out the season with the Colorado Short Track Championships at the end of March/beginning of April. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for announcements and details.
If you're willing to travel, there are numerous opportunities to compete at the local, regional, and national level. Check out the EVENTS section of the US Speedskating website.
Dryland
Dryland refers to off-ice strength and conditioning training that is specific to the demands of speedskating. Swimmers use the same term. Dryland exercises include holding basic skating position for unusually long amounts of time, working on the 1-2-3 skating motion while nice and low, slideboard exercises, stair drills, balance exercises, and much more.
Dryland is held prior to each practice and throughout the week. Be sure to check the calendar.
Inline Skating
Often referred to as "Rollerblading," inlining has a lot in common with ice speedskating. Much of the technique is the same, but much is also different. Wheels on pavement behave in a different manner than blades on ice. The two sports definitely complement each other, though, and if you'd like to dive into inlining, check out our partner club, Synergy Speedskating Colorado.
Other Cross-Training
Many of us favor cycling as a cross-training activity. During the off season, you'll find most of us on our bikes. Short track events play out over just a couple of minutes, while bike rides often go for hours. Strength training and dryland will address your fitness during a single race event, while cycling will help you with recovery between races and throughout a competition. A good cycling regimen will also make you the Energizer Bunny of any skate practice.
Where else can I skate?
Lots of places. Take your speedskates to a public session at your local rink--but PLEASE, be a good ambassador for the sport and avoid skating truly fast. Public sessions, especially lightly-attended ones at odd times of the day, are ideal for practicing the drills that confounded you at practice. It really pays to get good at those. There's a saying in speedskating: if you can't do it slow, you can't do it fast. Public sessions are the time to keep it slow.
Other options...
Utah Olympic Oval, Kearns, UT
The fastest ice in the world. Location of the long track competition for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Home to Team USA long and short track. We have been known to conduct pilgrimages to the oval to get our long track fix.
Pettit National Ice Center, Milwaukee, WI